When Johnson & Wales students Christopher DelPrete and Rand Carswell decided to open a food truck, they had no idea that it would take off like it did. The former private chefs took a chance on starting their own business together in 2012, opening Miami Press food truck. Since then, the truck, which serves gourmet pressed sandwiches, smothered fries, and mac ‘n cheese balls, has garnered quite a following. Now, the guys are ready to make the move to a brick and mortar restaurant.

Press Gourmet Sandwiches has its grand opening on Wednesday, July 15. The first 100 guests through the door will receive free mac ‘n cheese balls as a welcome gift to the neighborhood.

The 1,500 square foot location follows the newspaper-story theme of the original food truck, with black-and-white-and red all over decor. The highlight of the menu are the eight gourmet chef-inspired sandwiches — each named after an iconic newspaper.

“We’re excited to launch our first brick-and-mortar restaurant. Over the past three years, we’ve built a loyal following of foodies in South Florida, and we’re looking forward to providing a permanent home for our gourmet chef-inspired sandwiches. We encourage Miami Press Food Truck fans to stop by on opening day to experience an expanded and revamped version of our menu, while still enjoying fan-favorites such as the award-winning Mac’n cheese balls.

The Times.Photo courtesy of Press Gourmet Sandwiches

Press Gourmet Sandwiches will be located at located at 6206 North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. On Wednesday, July 15, the first 100 guests will receive free mac ‘n cheese balls.

]]>http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/fort-lauderdale-fl-miami-press-food-truck-to-open-press-gourmet-sandwiches-in-fort-lauderdale/feed/0Orlando, FL: Grilled cheese, ice cream, and other summer delights: new restaurants open now/opening soonhttp://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/orlando-fl-grilled-cheese-ice-cream-and-other-summer-delights-new-restaurants-open-nowopening-soon/
http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/orlando-fl-grilled-cheese-ice-cream-and-other-summer-delights-new-restaurants-open-nowopening-soon/#commentsMon, 06 Jul 2015 13:23:32 +0000http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=72395You’ve seen the food truck, now get ready for the brick-and-mortar storefront. Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream is open in the former Ice Cream Treats & Eats space in Audubon Park.

Morimoto Asia will open in September at Disney Springs. This will be Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s first pan-Asian restaurant, featuring flavors from across the continent, as well as exhibition demos on things like how to carve Peking duck or make dim sum.

The four Disney food trucks, along with the ESPN food truck, have a new permanent home at Exposition Park in Downtown Disney. The park will host one or more of the four Disney food trucks — Namaste Cafe with flavors from Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Superstar Catering with favorites from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Fantasy Fare with Magic Kingdom Park treats and World Showcase of Flavors with Epcot offerings — daily on the West Side between Bongo’s Cuban Cafe and Starbucks. Exposition Park is open evenings, with hours varying during peak times and special events. (Kent Phillips, photographer) source: wdwnews.com

All event times and locations subject to change. Keep up with food-truck activities at OrlandoSentinel.com/foodtrucks, thedailycity.com, thefoodtruckbazaar.com, orlandosfoodtrucks.com, cravepromo.com, droolius.com and tastychomps.com. Also, truck owners use Facebook and Twitter to let fans know about locations.

]]>http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/04/orlando-fl-food-trucks-orlando-april-5-11/feed/0Orlando, FL: Orlando’s 10 Best Food Trucks & Street Eatshttp://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/03/orlando-fl-orlandos-10-best-food-trucks-street-eats/
http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/03/orlando-fl-orlandos-10-best-food-trucks-street-eats/#commentsMon, 23 Mar 2015 13:13:59 +0000http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=69386Orlando's great dining scene doesn't stop with its restaurants: the Florida city is filled with food trucks which provide top-quality cuisine from all over the world. Here is our compilation of ten of the best that you need to track down.

Bem Bom

Bem Bom is one of the best places to pick up high quality Portuguese food in the Southern states. Chef Chico Mendonça perfected his skills by working in Bermuda and Dallas before bringing his unique blend of Portuguese, New American and French cuisine to Orlando. Specialities include mango infused fish, mushroom truffle quesadilla, and carnitas tacos – a type of Portuguese taco filled with braised pork. Anyone who has visited Portugal will be familiar with pastel de nata, the famous Portuguese custard tarts, and you’ll be pleased to learn that they sell them here. They also sell soups and salads that can be taken away to eat at a later date.

Bem Bom Food Truck

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice serves a unique dessert which is a combination of pureed fresh fruit, ice cream and fresh fruit. There are over 40 varieties at their truck, including pina colada, mint chocolate chip, and pumpkin pie. Everything is served in generous portions in the frog logo plastic cups. You can either buy an ice cream, a straight ice, or a swirled combination of the two. The truck has been a beloved part of the Orlando food truck scene for years. The perfect dish to order in the Florida heat.

Twisted Plates

Twisted Plates is the place to get gourmet inspired food without having to put on a tux and shell out a small fortune. The menu changes regularly, and current menu highlights include arancini (a risotto lovers paradise in food form, with deep fried risotto stuffed with pork), a hummus and edamame baba ghanoush, and pistachio panna cotta. Unlike many food trucks, they offer a range of entrées as well as quick bites and desserts. The trio who own the truck also focus on supplying in-season and fresh ingredients. Twisted Plates will also soon be available for private catering, so watch this space.

Daydream Pizza

True to their name, Daydream Pizza produces the kind of pizzas that everyone conjures up in their hungriest daydreams: a crispy crust, a thick layer of cheese, and tons of toppings. The menu includes everything from regular classics such as margherita to more inventive creations such as pepperoni and marshmallow. There is also a selection of pizza rolls and hot dogs on offer, making this the ideal truck to satisfy late-evening snack cravings. The owners pride themselves for super friendly service and extra fresh ingredients prepared from scratch. All pizzas are priced at less than $15 dollars, while hot dogs and pizza rolls are $6 each.

Treehouse Truck

Treehouse Truck specialise in party catering as well as every-day street food, which has made their truck a local favorite at events and celebrations. And it isn’t hard to see why. The truck serves the all-American street food of your dreams, such as burgers, cheesesteaks and fries. The owners distinguish themselves from the town’s numerous burger joints by supplying classics with unexpected twists: you can order a French onion cheeseburger (complete with melted gruyère and caramelized onions) and the intriguing ‘Jerry’s 12-0’, which is seasoned with espresso and creamy peanut butter. They also cater to the southern tradition of deep-frying by supplying deep-fried oreos and PB & Js.

Monsta Lobsta Truck

If you miss the spirit of New England seafood while you’re in the south, Monsta Lobsta Truck is the street food provider for you. The truck is run by a seafood enthusiast from Maine who aims to provide healthy fast food. Highlights of their menu include Lobster rolls with hot sauce, and New England style clam chowder. While Monsta Lobsta is pricier than other trucks in the area ($20 a plate), it is still cheaper than a restaurant and the experience of enjoying fresh lobster in the Florida sun is priceless. The owners also maintain a social conscience, as a portion of every dish sold is donated to charity.

Curbie’s Sidewalk Café

Curbie’s Sidewalk Café is an easily recognizable truck, with the statue of liberty and the stars and stripes emblazoned on one side, bringing cuisine from all over America to one spot in Orlando. Delicacies from all over the states include New Orleans shrimp po’ boys, Southwestern cheeseburgers, and California style fish tacos. A menu highlight is their selection of hot dogs, which come in Chicago, New York, Seattle, West Virginia, Carolina and Coney Island varieties, each prepared in a distinct style with a range of trimmings. Check out their facebook page to find out where they will be next.

Dixieland Diner

If you haven’t experienced genuine cajun and southern cuisine, Dixieland Diner is your chance to try it out. This convenient food truck serves classic dishes such as shrimp and grits and jambalaya, as well as Nashville style hot chicken sandwiches. Make sure to try their ‘Boudin Balls’, which are a fun way of serving traditional blood sausage with an enticing dip. The winning combination of Southern hospitality and portion size means that the queues for this food truck are long, so make sure to get their early before their stock runs out. Thankfully, the quality of the food more than makes up for any time spent queuing.

Au Naturel Juice and Smoothie Bar

If you’re used to picking up blended drinks at the supermarket, Au Naturel Juice and Smoothie Bar are prepared fresh in front of you while you wait. The owners only started up their truck in 2013, but have gained a substantial following since the beginning. They provide both ultra healthy green juices and indulgent peanut butter and cacao smoothies. All of their drinks clock in at about $6. The menu changes at every event, and you can check out where they’ll be next via their event calendar, and they are also always outside Track Shack on N Mills Avenue all day every Thursday.

Sweet City Gelato

Sweet City Gelato provides traditional Italian gelato and sorbetto. All of their sorbetto flavours are vegan and gluten free. They also serve a range of desserts such as cakes, brownie sundaes, and gelato cookie sandwiches, all of which include the trucks homemade ices. The truck is a also a regular and welcome addition to sports games in the area. They also serve ‘Brooklyns’, which are an ice cream case which is a delicious combination of a brownie and a blondie. Menu highlights include chocolate hazelnut gelato and blood orange sorbetto.

]]>http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/03/orlando-fl-orlandos-10-best-food-trucks-street-eats/feed/0Orlando, FL: Action 9 Investigates Dirty Food Truckshttp://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2014/11/orlando-fl-action-9-investigates-dirty-food-trucks/
http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2014/11/orlando-fl-action-9-investigates-dirty-food-trucks/#commentsTue, 11 Nov 2014 15:35:56 +0000http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=68412Actions 9 exposes food trucks that keep failing state inspections and could make you sick. The rolling restaurants are widely popular, but WFTV's Todd Ulrich found the state has failed to get some truck owners to clean up their act.

Actions 9 exposes food trucks that keep failing state inspections and could make you sick. The rolling restaurants are widely popular, but WFTV’s Todd Ulrich found the state has failed to get some truck owners to clean up their act.

Action 9 found an old grocery bag used to scoop cooked food, filthy water to wash dishes and even uncovered mystery meat.

“I have no idea what that could be,” said retired government inspector Paul Cook.

Those were just a few of the violations Action 9 spotted inside Carolina Lunch, a food truck with a history of serious inspection violations. There, Cook found many past risky mistakes had not been corrected, like frozen chicken thawing uncovered under a dripping air-conditioning unit.

“Would you have her throw that out?” asked Ulrich.

“Yes. I have no idea how long it’s been here,” said Cook.

When Ulrich first got in the truck, there was no running water, no paper towels and no soap, which according to Cook would make washing hands a major problem.

Just six months ago, a state inspector temporally shut down Carolina Lunch after it flunked an inspection. There were 14 warnings for risky violations.

Regina Sacca wasn’t familiar with crepes when she decided to buy a food truck in 1999. Once greeted by a crepe maker inside, however, she began learning how to make them using a recipe that a co-worker gave her from a family member in Luxemburg. She picked it up immediately.

“I had never had a crepe before I made one,” Sacca said.

She began cooking up batches using a made-from-scratch batter with no preservatives, adding sweet and salty fillings to produce gourmet creations. She created different versions of the traditional crepe, including dessert crepes full of nutella, strawberries and whipped cream, and breakfast crepes filled with eggs, mushrooms and spinach.

“At that time, back fifteen, sixteen years ago, nobody ever heard of a breakfast crepe,” she said.

She slowly learned that anything that could be put in a wrap could easily be added to a crepe as well, and so she created lunch crepes stuffed with a variety of ingredients like chicken, peppers, asparagus, shrimp, cheese, and onions.

When a friend gave her the recipe for funnel cakes, she began making those as well, and it was a hit.

“At that time, way way back then, first of all nobody knew what a crepe was,” Sacca said. “And second of all, funnel cakes, we only got them once a year at a fair.”

Eats and Sweets via Facebook

Now, years later, the food truck known as Eats and Sweets is a mobile creperie offering specialty crepes, made-to-order treats, funnel cakes and pies. It has made its way around Martin, Palm Beach, Dade and Broward Counties, and can regularly be found offering breakfast and lunch at the SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch held in Fort Lauderdale on the first Sunday of each month.

Eats and Sweets offers crepes tailored to specific events — such as fresh grouper crepes for a boat show — and uses fresh ingredients to quickly produce made-to-order dishes as it moves from place to place.

The food truck, Sacca says, allows her to offer restaurant-quality food freshly and quickly. As a mobile restaurant, it’s under the same restrictions as any other restaurant and still has inspections and safety measures. Although not a traditional restaurant, the concept allows her to make on-site orders at different locations from green markets to outlets and special events, provide fresh and quality dishes everywhere she goes.

“We have everything that a restaurant has, only our location is not the same,” she said.

When we first heard the new plans for the re-imagining of the Downtown Disney in Walt Disney World, we were ecstatic. I’m looking forward to seeing all of the exciting developments that Disney Springs will hold. But none excited us more than the suggestion that we would see a hot trend coming home to roost right here in Walt Disney World. The Food Truck Craze has finally arrived!

Sure, we have seen the popular trend catch fire in cities all over. Orlando has a booming food truck industry that we already love.

But Food Truck Row, as it was named in the first details that emerged about Disney Springs, proved to be unique, in that it promised to bring some of the most beloved Disney foods from around the World. And within months of its announcement, we saw the roll out of the mini-fleet of take its place in and around the Downtown Disney Area.

As you’d expect, we’ve had the chance to take a closer look at all four trucks, and now we can’t wait to tell you a little more about them. Each truck is themed to the four parks of Walt Disney World, and yet carries further themeing that I find enchanting.

Superstar Catering Food Truck

You’ll notice the same classic old Hollywood, art deco touch in the truck’s colors and decorative touches that you see as you stroll down Hollywood Boulevard in the park. Aqua and coral dress out the exterior of the truck, with plenty of functional, stainless steel touches.

The menu features different variations of meatballs. Turkey Sausage and Golden Raisin Meatballs are served atop Soft Polenta. The Spinach and Feta Beef Meatball Sandwich offers a Greek twist on a fun sandwich option. Even the kid’s option is a Meatball Slider, served with Marinara and Provolone.

On our first visit to Superstar, we opted for the delicious-sounding Lamb Meatball Flatbread Sandwich. Three Lamb Meatballs are served on a pliable Pita with Arugula-Fennel Salad. Dressed with a generous amount of flavorful Tzatziki and a Vegetable Relish, it’s a delicious option for a light dinner!

Namaste Cafe Food Truck

The next to debut was Namaste Cafe Food Truck, which highlights tastes and flavors that you might find around Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The truck echoes the exotic feel of the park, particularly the Asia portion of it. Scenes from the Maharajah Jungle Trek and other beautiful animal depictions cover the panels, and the Tree of Life occupies a prominent spot.

Dishes from Namaste Cafe also offer Asian flavors and are all served with a combination of Basmati Rice and Naan, an Indian flatbread. Colorful Pickled Vegetables garnish each of the selections.

When we visited the truck for the first time, we couldn’t resist trying one of my very favorite dishes, Butter Chicken! Tender with the complex flavors of tomato and curry, the dish had less gravy than I normally associate with its counterpart served inSanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. But that’s perfect for a portable option! We enjoyed it immensely.

Fantasy Fare Food Truck

Red paint gives the truck a carnival air in keeping with the Storybook Circus section of New Fantasyland. And that’s appropriate, as Fantasy Fare celebrates the Culinary Traditions of Magic Kingdoms around the World!

And the menu reflects that theme well, with Glass Noodle Salad from Hong Kong Disneyland, as well as the Croque Monsieur served at Magic Kingdom’s Be Our Guest.

World Showcase of Flavors Food Truck

The fourth and final truck, World Showcase of Flavors, celebrates the rich food heritage of what has become known as the Festival Park — Epcot.

This sleek black and green truck has a more of a vintage, sophisticated feel. The painted travel stickers that decorate the facade echo the fun passport stamps you gather in your passport during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival each Fall!

The menu for World Showcase of Flavors features selections from the 2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival. Pierogies served with Kielbasa and Grass Fed Sliders are two of the options. We chose to sample the third — the Lobster Roll from the Hops & Barley Kiosk. It was delicious!

But we also love the Wines served by the glass, just like at the Festival. Each of the selections pair well with the food offerings, so you can celebrate the Food and Wine Festival throughout the whole year!

So there you have it! Your tour of Food Truck Row at Downtown Disney! Be sure to keep an eye out for the trucks, which naturally change locations. However, we’ve found them serving most of the time from the area near Cirque de Soleil and House of Blues, during evening hours.

]]>http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2014/01/orlando-fl-a-closer-look-at-disneys-new-food-trucks/feed/0Orlando, FL: Bem Bom Food Truckhttp://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2014/01/orlando-fl-bem-bom-food-truck/
http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2014/01/orlando-fl-bem-bom-food-truck/#commentsThu, 09 Jan 2014 15:40:22 +0000http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=65841The lamb burger is available for people who want something meatier. Burgers are almost expected at some of the gourmet trucks, but this is the only one that Bem Bom offers. But it’s a good one, in no small part because Mendonca grinds the meat when ordered.

Food Network’s “Eat St.” will be in the area for several days beginning Friday to film some of our food trucks. The first to be featured is Bem Bom, the Portuguese food truck with chef Francisco “Chico” Mendonca behind the wheel and in front of the stove. I hopped on board the other day to discuss the shoot with Mendonca and to sample some of the specialities he plans to cook at Friday’s shoot.

“Chico” Mendonca takes his time making each dish perfect.

Mendonca, who grew up in the Azores of Portugal, has had the truck for two years. Prior to that he was the chef at the nonmoving Cocina 214 in Winter Park, and before that he worked in the actual 214 area code — Dallas — at Clair de Lune and Voltaire. He says he prefers cooking in the food truck to cooking in a conventional restaurant. “I like the freedom,” he told me.

Bem Bom (long O on the Bom) means good good in Portuguese, a response to the question “how does it taste?” After sampling some of the food from this truck, I think the name should be adjusted a bit. What’s the Portuguese word for crazy? Because my response to everything I ate was, “This is crazy good good.”

The reason that everything is so delicious is because of the painstaking care Mendonca takes in preparing the food to order. Sometimes people mistakenly equate food trucks with fast food. That may be true for some trucks, but you’d better be ready to idle your engine a bit when you order from Bem Bom. Trust me, it’s going to be worth the wait.

The Running Duck Taco is made extra special with Mendonca’s orange dust.

I especially liked the Running Duck Taco that Mendonca assembled for me. He confits his own duck legs then sautes the meat and crisps the skin on the truck’s griddle. He puts the meat into the thick, double tortilla and tops it with ginger, basil and his house slaw (truck slaw?). Then he chops up the duck skin so that it’s sort of like a crackling topping and sprinkles that on top of the taco. He finishes it off with orange dust, something he makes himself by roasting orange peels and then grinding them into a powder. That little touch made for a wonderfully smoky citrus note.

Chicken Piri Piri has a spicy kick.

Chicken Piri-Piri made use of the Portuguese piri-piri sauce, whose name means pepper-pepper, so you get an idea of the spiciness. Mendonca marinates the chicken in the sauce and also uses it as a finishing touch. Some melted island cheese, fresh cilantro and sliced radish (Mendonca uses a lot of radishes) and you’ve got a spicy but surprisingly fresh tasting sandwich.

Mendonca grinds the lamb to order for his burger.

The lamb burger is available for people who want something meatier. Burgers are almost expected at some of the gourmet trucks, but this is the only one that Bem Bom offers. But it’s a good one, in no small part because Mendonca grinds the meat when ordered. The grass-fed lamb is mixed with spices, including mint, topped with tomato jam, piri-piri and an apple-ginger barbecue sauce and served on a special Portuguese roll that Mendonca says he drives four hours to buy.

You can taste all this yourself — and maybe get yourself on the tv, too — when Bem Bom goes for its closeup Friday. The taping will be in the parking lot of Southeast Steel, 63 W. Amelia St., Orlando, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If you miss that taping, Eat St. will also be at East End Market on Saturday at noon with Sushi & Seoul on the Roll (formerly Fish Out of Water). Flog favorite Swede Dish will be the focus at noon on Sunday at Eat More Produce, 1111 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park. Treehouse Truck is the Monday truck, at Golf Channel, 7580 Golf Channel Drive, Orlando, also noon.

Cafe Rouge Express will serve its English-inspired food on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, 142 E. Jackson St., and filming will conclude on Wednesday at the offices of Orlando Weekly, 1505 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, with Curbside Chef. Those are also at noon.

Crave Food Truck, opened by couple Andres Guardrola and Renee Spataso, gives locals a fresh alternative to healthy eating. The food truck has been opened since July, and offers organic sandwiches, wraps, salads and fresh fruit smoothies. After two years of planning, the pair finally took the risk and quit their day jobs at the Casa Monica to feel the freedom of being self employed.

Deciding to open a food truck over a restaurant wasn’t a difficult decision for the couple to make. “It’s a quick and easy way to get specific specialty items with the convenience of not having to sit down” said Guardrola. The smaller operation allows them to focus on each and every costumer. “ We know every single one of the patrons and to us, that is very important.”

The couple have no problems working alongside each other. “ We work well together. Renee is more quiet and better with the food and I’m more of the talker, so we mesh well and compliment each other. It brings an environment of love and care to the food and costumers,” said Guardrola.

Guardrola and Spataso are thankful for their daily patrons and appreciate all of the support St. Augustine has given them. “It motivates us each day to keep doing this.”

The couple hopes to expand their business and open more food trucks in other towns, but for right now they are focusing on consistency and the quality of their food.